Chapter Thirty-Six: The Remaining Branches of the Li Family

“What’s going on out there? Why is it so noisy?” Li Jinrong said impatiently.

His son, Li Jing, ran to the crack in the main gate to sneak a peek, and his face immediately turned to shock.

“Dad, there are people outside—a lot of people!”

“What? Is that Li Jinxi trying to rebel? Let’s see what she’s up to!”

Bang!

The Li family’s main gate was flung open. Li Jinrong and the others stormed out in a fury.

“Li Jinxi, what are you doing?”

“If you’re here to tear down our house, I’ll be the first to stand against you!”

Upon seeing her elder brother emerge, the old lady of the Li family immediately broke into a smile.

“Brother, don’t be angry. I haven’t come to tear down your house—I’m here to bring you gifts!”

“Hm?”

Li Jinrong’s expression changed upon hearing this, and when he took in the scene before him, his astonishment deepened.

In front of him was a pile of gifts—agate, jade, jewelry of every kind. The spectacle was even more lavish than the celebration for his sixtieth birthday.

“These... where did all these come from?”

For a moment, Li Jinrong’s face was bathed in a golden glow. His heart began to race. This heap of treasures could guarantee the Li family a far better life.

“Master Li, these are my compensation to you, to make amends for the calamity your family suffered back then.”

Xiao Ye smiled calmly as he spoke.

Li Jinrong frowned, giving Xiao Ye a once-over. “And who are you?”

“Brother, he’s my son-in-law, don’t you remember? The eldest young master of the Xiao family!” The old lady spoke with pride, hurrying forward with a smile.

“What? The eldest young master of the Xiao family?”

At these words, every member of the Li family turned pale, a surge of anger rising in their eyes.

If not for the Xiao family, the Lis would never have fallen into such misfortune!

“Our family ended up like this all because of the Xiao family! And you dare show your face here—get out at once!”

“You are not welcome here. Get as far away as you can!”

Li Jing and the others shouted at Xiao Ye. In their eyes, all their misery traced back to him.

“How dare you disrespect the King of Foreign Surname—you’re courting death!”

Suddenly, Chilong roared, about to lunge at Li Jing.

“What? King of Foreign Surname?”

At Chilong’s words, Li Jinrong’s eyelids twitched. How could this young man before him possibly be the King of Foreign Surname?

“Chilong, stand down.”

With a light command from Xiao Ye, Chilong halted in his tracks.

“Master Li, the past is long gone. Today I come in good faith, hoping you might let bygones be bygones. However, should your family speak recklessly again, do not blame me for being merciless.”

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Ye’s eyes. To insult the Xiao family was to court death.

At this, Li Jinrong trembled, sensing the sudden, murderous aura radiating from Xiao Ye. Unbidden, a surge of fear seized his heart.

The atmosphere grew as still as ice. Seeing the tension, the old lady hurried to Li Jinrong’s side and took his arm.

“Brother, I’ve come this time precisely to discuss these matters. Don’t be rash!”

Li Jinxi pulled Li Jinrong aside, snapping him out of his daze.

“Jinxi, are you telling the truth? Is this man really the King of Foreign Surname?” Li Jinrong asked in disbelief.

“Brother, would I ever lie to you?”

The old lady leaned in close and explained how Xiao Ye had destroyed three of the four great clans of Jianghai City.

At her words, Li Jinrong’s legs began to tremble with fear.

“Is that possible? Three of Jianghai City’s four great families gone—if the last, the Huangfu clan, is dealt with, then the whole city will belong to the Xiao family!”

Li Jinrong’s shock was evident. Suddenly, a thought struck him.

If the Xiao family allied with theirs, wouldn’t a share of Jianghai City be theirs as well?

“That’s right, brother. That’s exactly what I came to discuss with you!”

After exchanging a few hushed words, both Li Jinxi and Li Jinrong looked toward Xiao Ye.

Only after a long while did Li Jinrong step forward, his face breaking into a broad smile as he spoke to Xiao Ye.

“Xiao Ye, my sister and I have some matters to discuss. Would you mind waiting outside a while? We’ll call you in shortly.”

“No problem, Master Li. Take your time.”

Xiao Ye scarcely minded Li Jinrong’s request. Now that he was the King of Foreign Surname, there was little left in the world that could trouble him.

With Xiao Ye’s consent, Li Jinrong quickly led the whole Li family back inside. After much deliberation, they finally reopened the main gate.

“Xiao Ye, come in—we’ve reached a decision!”

Standing in the doorway, Li Jinrong beckoned Xiao Ye in with a beaming smile. Had Xiao Ye not known the Li family’s plight, he might have thought they were laying a trap.

Xiao Ye entered with Chilong. No sooner had he stepped inside than he sensed something amiss.

In the center of the room stood a round table, the Li family seated around it, with only a single seat near the door left for Xiao Ye.

Chilong frowned, his temper flaring. Even if the King of Foreign Surname paid a visit, if not the seat of honor, he should at least be offered a guest’s seat.

Clearly, they did not regard Xiao Ye as a guest at all.

“Master Li, may I ask why you invited me in?” Xiao Ye asked directly.

“I’ve called you in, naturally, to discuss the matter at hand.”

Li Jinrong’s face was wreathed in smiles, but his eyes gleamed with calculation.

“You know as well as I do—because of your Xiao family, our Li family was implicated and has been destitute ever since.”

“So we’d like some compensation. After all, now that you’re the King of Foreign Surname, you stand second only to the Dragon King himself in this country!”

The moment of truth had come.

A faint smile played at the corners of Xiao Ye’s lips. Before stepping through the door, he had already guessed what Li Jinrong wished to discuss.

Yet he did not intend to refuse. As Li Jinrong said, he owed the Li family much.

“Very well. What is it you want? I’ll do my best to accommodate you.”

“We want half the land in Jianghai City!”

With a bang, Li Jinrong’s son, Li Jing, slapped his palm on the table, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Half the land?”

Xiao Ye raised his brow. Li Jing was certainly not shy about asking.

And there was more. Li Jing’s lips curled into a cold smile as he continued.

“I want that half of the land to be all state-owned, so I can open up shops. And for the first three years, we won’t pay a cent in taxes!”

Xiao Ye’s smile widened.

The annual GDP of Jianghai City was at least two hundred billion. If the Li family took half the land to open shops, they would pocket a hundred billion a year.

In three years, the impoverished Li family would transform into a legendary clan worth hundreds of billions, renowned across the nation.